ED starts multiple raids in connection with Akhilesh Yadav’s pet Gomti riverfont project in Lucknow

The initial enquiry was ordered by Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, after which CBI had taken over the investigation.

Akhilesh Yadav

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate, on Thursday conducted multiple searches across various states in the Rs 1,500 crore Gomti river front development project in Lucknow PMLA case, officials said. The raids were carried out in the residence and various premises of the accused and their associates in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. As per the officials the teams are looking for documents and evidence. The Gomti River Front in Lucknow was the pet project of the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The central probe agency had filed a criminal case in connection with multi crore project, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in March last year. The ED case was filed after taking cognizance of a CBI FIR. The initial enquiry was ordered by Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, after which CBI had taken over the investigation. The ED had launched a probe into the project last year on suspicion that engineers and other officials linked to the project, diverted funds meant for the development of the riverfront. The Yogi government had asked for an investigation into irregularities committed with a "criminal intent" in the implementation of the channelisation and development projects for the riverfront, by the state's Department of Irrigation. The CBI had filed an FIR against then chief engineers Gulesh Chandra, S N Sharma, Qazim Ali, then superintendent engineers Mangal Yadav, Akhil Raman, Kamaleshwar Singh, Roop Singh Yadav and executive engineer Surendra Yadav. Gulesh Chandra, Mangal Yadav, Akhil Raman and Roop Singh Yadav have retired.

Gomti riverfront case: Enforcement Directorate conducts raids in Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh(Lucknow and Noida)

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 24, 2019